This blog has been set up to further the cause of compassion for Asylum Seekers.
We will post letters that have been sent to politicians, building up the pressure to provide compassionate support to all refugees in Australia and anywhere where people have been sent by the Australian Government.
Send your letter and any reply to our email address and we will post it on the site
Any other information of use will also be posted. For Facebook page click on "contact us" tab below.

16.1.15

Thank you for your email of 14th January in response to my email of 7th January.

In your email you set out, once again, the failings of the previous government’s immigration policies in contrast with what you regard as the rigorous and effective policies of your government. Unfortunately, you failed to address any of the issues which I raised with you.

My email referred specifically to the plight of refugees and asylum seekers on the island of Nauru. I set out some of the concerns that I and many Australians have about the lives of real people, who every day of the week have to live the experience of the government’s offshore detention policies. I asked you a number of specific questions relating to the safety and wellbeing of refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru and I invited you to comment on the statement from Save the Children that “Nauru is not a sustainable long-term option for the resettlement of refugees”.

I would be most grateful if you would now respond to the specific issues that I have raised with you.

The cost of the Labor’s failures on our borders over the six years was substantial in humanitarian and financial terms. Their failed border protection policies have resulted in an environment where more than a thousand people have perished at sea. More than 8,100 people who have been waiting offshore in desperate circumstances were also denied Australia’s protection via humanitarian visas over its final three years. During this time, Labor's asylum budget has blown out by $10 billion.

The Coalition remains committed to the proven policies and principles we have held for a decade. We have protected the integrity of our immigration program.

It was the Coalition who originally enshrined human rights protections in the Migration Act under section 198A for those processed offshore. It was the Coalition who opposed Labor’s Malaysian 5 for 1 people swap because it was an abominable deal that could not provide sufficient protections for those sent to Malaysia. It was the Coalition who opposed the attempts to strip all protectionsfrom the Migration Act. The Coalition’s stance was vindicated by both the High Court of Australia and again by the Houston Report, which found the Malaysia deal did not contain adequate human rights protections for those sent there. It was the Coalition who insisted that, when Labor reopened Nauru and Manus Island, the parliament would need to approve any country used for offshore processing, to ensure appropriate human rights protections were in place.

The Coalition has always maintained a strong border protection policy and orderly immigration system is essential to safeguard the integrity of our Humanitarian and Refugee Program. Australia runs the most generous resettlement program per capita in the world. Less than one percent of the world’s 10 million refugees will be resettled in any one year. The Coalition believes we should hold steadfastly to protecting the integrity of this program so that, at all times, we are in a position to decide who will get that rare chance of resettlement.

We promised to restore the full suite of our proven policies including offshore processing in Nauru, visa reform and coastal operations where the circumstances permit. We have fulfilled our promises to the Australian people and will continue to do so.

Thank you for taking the time to write to me with your concerns on these important matters.

I trust that you are enjoying a well-earned Summer break with your family and friends.

Sadly, for the asylum seekers and refugees on Nauru, their days and nights continue to be filled with fear and uncertainty as a result of the Coalition's asylum policies. We read on a regular basis, notwithstanding the government's efforts to shroud the harsh realities in secrecy, of the constant threats of physical and sexual abuse, and of violence committed against refugees now "settled" in this utterly inappropriate environment.

The Australian government, in spite of assertions to the contrary, continues to be responsible for the safety and the lives of these people.

Why should female asylum seekers and refugees feel obliged to sleep in their jeans because of their fears of rape? Why are asylum seekers and refugees fearful of reporting assaults and other abuse to security guards or to the police? How can things be so bad for refugees on Nauru that some of them have asked to be returned to the detention centre?

Save the Children is contracted by the Australian government to provide social services to refugees on Nauru. Notwithstanding the gagging clauses in their contract, they state: "Save the Children believes that Nauru is not a sustainable, long-term option for the resettlement of humanitarian refugees." Given this statement of the obvious, and given that punishing these people is costing the Australian taxpayer up to $5 billion per annum, will you not now begin to take some steps to respond to the voices of so many decent Australians who believe that offshore detention should be brought to an end in 2015? Surely it should now be acknowledged that it is time to put this ugly and shameful chapter in our history behind us.